You always have to return to Gijón. Whether in search of those endless strolls along San Lorenzo Beach, the warm sunsets over the marina, the sound of the sea and seagulls below the Praise to the Horizon or that pure, moist air in spots like the Atlantic Botanic Gardens, Deva and La Providencia.

But undoubtedly one of the best excuses to drop by the home town of Jovellanos is its cuisine and, of course, cider. Thanks to its location on the Bay of Biscay, just a short distance from the Picos de Europa, in Gijón you can enjoy the best of the sea and the mountains, with fish, seafood, cheese, meat, hearty bean stews and all the best produce of Asturian gourmet cuisine. Any time of year is good, but the city goes all out in autumn to the delight of even the most demanding gourmet.

Gourmet autumn

From 6th to 16th October, Gijón puts on its best bib and tucker to proudly celebrate that fact that it is the major cider venue worldwide. There is no better way to get to know local idiosyncrasies and savour the finest food and the best cider than a tour of the city’s most emblematic cider taverns. Cider mills from all over Asturias participate in the Cider in Gijón gastro-event. Over 11 days, each cider tavern offers a bottle of cider and a mini-tapa or portion of its own creation at a more than attractive price. A special bus covers the route of all the participating cider taverns so as to make it easier to get around. What’s more, choirs tour the city’s cider taverns throughout the gastro-event, singing traditional cancios de chigre, i.e. popular songs that people used to sing spontaneously in cider taverns in the old days.

And in November, it’s the turn of the mini-tapas or finger food known as pinchos. Gijón de pinchos or Mini-tapas Gijón is the gastro-festival with the highest participation in all of Spain. Last year, the event featured 121 participants, who offered their expertise and creativity for 10 days of gourmet snacking throughout the city. The organization provides a Gastromap so you can custom design a route through the city and participate in the popular vote in choosing the best mini-tapa or pincho. It is to be held between 11th and 20th November this year. A great plan for dining out on a budget, which is rounded off by the fact that it coincides with the Xixón International Film Festival.

This is just to whet your appetite, as Gijón always has something prepared for those who like to enjoy its flavours. For example, its Gijón Gourmet and Sweet-toothed Gijón schemes, which run throughout the year. There is also the Gijón Cider Trail, which is even more of an attraction in the autumn because that is when the apples are harvested and the first “sweet cider” or apple must is made. This sidra dulce serves as an accompaniment in what are known locally as amagüestos, i.e. get togethers to eat roasted chestnuts.

The capital of the Costa Verde or “Green Coast” really has something to offer and has earned its place as the most dynamic city in northern Spain, a city that welcomes its visitors with open arms. Surely there is no better way to charge up your batteries than to head for the Bay of Biscay to breathe the breeze… to live and breathe Gijón.

You always have to return to Gijón. Whether in search of those endless strolls along San Lorenzo Beach, the warm sunsets over the marina, the sound of the sea and seagulls below the Praise to the Horizon or that pure, moist air in spots like the Atlantic Botanic Gardens, Deva and La Providencia.

But undoubtedly one of the best excuses to drop by the home town of Jovellanos is its cuisine and, of course, cider. Thanks to its location on the Bay of Biscay, just a short distance from the Picos de Europa, in Gijón you can enjoy the best of the sea and the mountains, with fish, seafood, cheese, meat, hearty bean stews and all the best produce of Asturian gourmet cuisine. Any time of year is good, but the city goes all out in autumn to the delight of even the most demanding gourmet.

Gourmet autumn

From 6th to 16th October, Gijón puts on its best bib and tucker to proudly celebrate that fact that it is the major cider venue worldwide. There is no better way to get to know local idiosyncrasies and savour the finest food and the best cider than a tour of the city’s most emblematic cider taverns. Cider mills from all over Asturias participate in the Cider in Gijón gastro-event. Over 11 days, each cider tavern offers a bottle of cider and a mini-tapa or portion of its own creation at a more than attractive price. A special bus covers the route of all the participating cider taverns so as to make it easier to get around. What’s more, choirs tour the city’s cider taverns throughout the gastro-event, singing traditional cancios de chigre, i.e. popular songs that people used to sing spontaneously in cider taverns in the old days.

And in November, it’s the turn of the mini-tapas or finger food known as pinchos. Gijón de pinchos or Mini-tapas Gijón is the gastro-festival with the highest participation in all of Spain. Last year, the event featured 121 participants, who offered their expertise and creativity for 10 days of gourmet snacking throughout the city. The organization provides a Gastromap so you can custom design a route through the city and participate in the popular vote in choosing the best mini-tapa or pincho. It is to be held between 11th and 20th November this year. A great plan for dining out on a budget, which is rounded off by the fact that it coincides with the Xixón International Film Festival.

This is just to whet your appetite, as Gijón always has something prepared for those who like to enjoy its flavours. For example, its Gijón Gourmet and Sweet-toothed Gijón schemes, which run throughout the year. There is also the Gijón Cider Trail, which is even more of an attraction in the autumn because that is when the apples are harvested and the first “sweet cider” or apple must is made. This sidra dulce serves as an accompaniment in what are known locally as amagüestos, i.e. get togethers to eat roasted chestnuts.

The capital of the Costa Verde or “Green Coast” really has something to offer and has earned its place as the most dynamic city in northern Spain, a city that welcomes its visitors with open arms. Surely there is no better way to charge up your batteries than to head for the Bay of Biscay to breathe the breeze… to live and breathe Gijón.

An open, hospitable, dynamic, innovative, fun city, Gijón (or Xixón as it is known in the vernacular) always surprises visitors. Asturias’ major city preserves many secrets in its ever-lively streets where the town’s maritime, commercial and industrial past can still be lived and breathed. Maybe it’s that very history that marked its idiosyncrasies. Subsequently, Gijón has positioned itself as a city associated with culture and contemporary creativity.

You always have to return to Gijón. Whether in search of those endless strolls along San Lorenzo Beach, the warm sunsets over the marina, the sound of the sea and seagulls below the Praise to the Horizon or that pure, moist air in spots like the Atlantic Botanic Gardens, Deva and La Providencia.

One of the best excuses to drop by the home town of Jovellanos is its cuisine. Thanks to its location on the Bay of Biscay, just a short distance from the Picos de Europa, in Gijón you can enjoy the best of the sea and the mountains, with all the best produce of Asturian gourmet cuisine.

Cultural Autumn

But if the gastronomic excuse is not enough to decide to visit Gijón in the autumn, then you need to take note of its up-and-coming cultural events. Four of the major festivals hosted by the city are held in autumn, all of which stand out in Spain’s cultural panorama: its dance, jazz, film and Gospel festivals. Festivals for all comers.

Dance Xixón, from 12th October to 1st November, seeks to promote the creation, production and dissemination of contemporary dance and gestural performance. With performances in several parts of the city, the festival presents dance as a contemporary language. There are dance performances for children, an open programme for adults, as well as workshops and seminars. The highlights this year include the Momix Dance Company’s show W Momix Forever, Victor Ullate Ballet’s version of El Amor Brujo (12th October) and EnÁmbar Dance’s Babaol (1st November).

The Jovellanos Theatre hosts the Xixón Jazz Festival between 11th and 13th November, promising great performances. This year, the headliners are drummer Manu Katché, who has played with bands and stars like Sting, Dire Straits, Tears for Fears, The Christians, Paul Young, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N’Dour, Simple Minds and Joe Satriani; and The Stanley Clarke Band, who have played with musicians of the standing of Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Pharaoh Saunders and Gil Evans. Concerts and shows have also been programmed in other areas of the city such as the “Antiguo Instituto” Cultural Centre.

But what you’re really into is celluloid, then you should head for Gijón between 19th and 26th October, when the city hosts the 54th Xixón International Film Festival. This is a must event for lovers of quality films and an opportunity to see many independent films, so far unreleased in Spain... two weeks during which the city lives and breathes cinema and surprises are to be found on every corner. Besides the programming in the festival’s different sections, there will also be courses on various topics related to the 7th Art, round tables, meetings with directors and so on. You can also enjoy daily concerts and parties with live music, where film buffs and festival stars gather and mix.

And to close the autumn, the Jovellanos Theatre is once again to host the Gospel Music Festival. A long-standing tradition in the city, this festival brings together the leading figures ​​of this musical genre, from countries where it has its deepest roots, mainly the United States. This year Gijón will play host from 16th to 18th December to: Barbara Hendricks, distinguished in 2000 with the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, who will presents a programme of Blues, Gospel and Black Spirituals, illustrating through this emotional music the struggle of the slaves for freedom, the end of racial segregation and the Civil Rights Movement; South Carolina Gospel Chorale, with a vibrant show of moving traditional soul and modern gospel; and the Black Heritage Choir, from Mississippi, who will offer a tribute to Aretha Franklin.

The capital of the Costa Verde or “Green Coast” really has something to offer and has earned its place as the most dynamic city in northern Spain, a city that welcomes its visitors with open arms. Surely there is no better way to charge up your batteries than to head for the Bay of Biscay to breathe the breeze… to live and breathe Gijón.

An open, hospitable, dynamic, innovative, fun city, Gijón (or Xixón as it is known in the vernacular) always surprises visitors. Asturias’ major city preserves many secrets in its ever-lively streets where the town’s maritime, commercial and industrial past can still be lived and breathed. Maybe it’s that very history that marked its idiosyncrasies. Subsequently, Gijón has positioned itself as a city associated with culture and contemporary creativity.

You always have to return to Gijón. Whether in search of those endless strolls along San Lorenzo Beach, the warm sunsets over the marina, the sound of the sea and seagulls below the Praise to the Horizon or that pure, moist air in spots like the Atlantic Botanic Gardens, Deva and La Providencia.

One of the best excuses to drop by the home town of Jovellanos is its cuisine. Thanks to its location on the Bay of Biscay, just a short distance from the Picos de Europa, in Gijón you can enjoy the best of the sea and the mountains, with all the best produce of Asturian gourmet cuisine.

Cultural Autumn

But if the gastronomic excuse is not enough to decide to visit Gijón in the autumn, then you need to take note of its up-and-coming cultural events. Four of the major festivals hosted by the city are held in autumn, all of which stand out in Spain’s cultural panorama: its dance, jazz, film and Gospel festivals. Festivals for all comers.

Dance Xixón, from 12th October to 1st November, seeks to promote the creation, production and dissemination of contemporary dance and gestural performance. With performances in several parts of the city, the festival presents dance as a contemporary language. There are dance performances for children, an open programme for adults, as well as workshops and seminars. The highlights this year include the Momix Dance Company’s show W Momix Forever, Victor Ullate Ballet’s version of El Amor Brujo (12th October) and EnÁmbar Dance’s Babaol (1st November).

The Jovellanos Theatre hosts the Xixón Jazz Festival between 11th and 13th November, promising great performances. This year, the headliners are drummer Manu Katché, who has played with bands and stars like Sting, Dire Straits, Tears for Fears, The Christians, Paul Young, Tracy Chapman, Youssou N’Dour, Simple Minds and Joe Satriani; and The Stanley Clarke Band, who have played with musicians of the standing of Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Pharaoh Saunders and Gil Evans. Concerts and shows have also been programmed in other areas of the city such as the “Antiguo Instituto” Cultural Centre.

But what you’re really into is celluloid, then you should head for Gijón between 19th and 26th October, when the city hosts the 54th Xixón International Film Festival. This is a must event for lovers of quality films and an opportunity to see many independent films, so far unreleased in Spain... two weeks during which the city lives and breathes cinema and surprises are to be found on every corner. Besides the programming in the festival’s different sections, there will also be courses on various topics related to the 7th Art, round tables, meetings with directors and so on. You can also enjoy daily concerts and parties with live music, where film buffs and festival stars gather and mix.

And to close the autumn, the Jovellanos Theatre is once again to host the Gospel Music Festival. A long-standing tradition in the city, this festival brings together the leading figures ​​of this musical genre, from countries where it has its deepest roots, mainly the United States. This year Gijón will play host from 16th to 18th December to: Barbara Hendricks, distinguished in 2000 with the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, who will presents a programme of Blues, Gospel and Black Spirituals, illustrating through this emotional music the struggle of the slaves for freedom, the end of racial segregation and the Civil Rights Movement; South Carolina Gospel Chorale, with a vibrant show of moving traditional soul and modern gospel; and the Black Heritage Choir, from Mississippi, who will offer a tribute to Aretha Franklin.

The capital of the Costa Verde or “Green Coast” really has something to offer and has earned its place as the most dynamic city in northern Spain, a city that welcomes its visitors with open arms. Surely there is no better way to charge up your batteries than to head for the Bay of Biscay to breathe the breeze… to live and breathe Gijón.

Gijón/Xixón is a city with over two thousand years of history and a tradition of archaeological excavations dating back to the early 20th century, although the remains were not researched professionally and systematically until the 1980s. All this material and subsequent studies, findings and research become an attraction every summer at three of our major archaeological sites: the Campa Torres Archaeological Park, the Roman Villa of Veranes and the Campo Valdés Roman Baths. Each of these sites is of great value in itself, but much more can be got from them with the launching of a series of activities summed up in an offering called Archaeological Summer 2016, allowing participants to obtain entertaining, in-depth knowledge of this heritage dating from the city’s most ancestral memory.
[caption id="attachment_1976" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Campo Valdés Romnan Baths"][/caption]
An extensive program of activities has been organized at each of the sites from 17th June to 11th September. Exhibitions, talks and historical re-enactments of ancient times will delight visitors.
What’s more, the DOMVS exhibition is also open in Campa de Torres Archaeology Park until January 2017. The exhibition comprises a Roman house situated in the Chao Samartín hillfort, showing a domus that was built during the first decades of the 1st century AD within the walled enclosure as a residence for a prominent personage forming part of the imperial administration.
Not to mention the experience of getting on the “archaeobus,”a means of transport that allows you to discover Gijón/Xixón’s archaeological remains in a special way. The bus is available to visitors from mid-July. In August, you can discover the links between present-day plants and the past at Herbarium, an activity to be held at the Roman Villa of Veranes.
The list is very long and we have outlined just a part of a fascinating programme of activities brimming with memories and imagination. Why not sign up and make a getaway to Gijón/Xixón to hear the tale its stones have to tell. They are still alive!]]>

Gijón/Xixón is a city with over two thousand years of history and a tradition of archaeological excavations dating back to the early 20th century, although the remains were not researched professionally and systematically until the 1980s. All this material and subsequent studies, findings and research become an attraction every summer at three of our major archaeological sites: the Campa Torres Archaeological Park, the Roman Villa of Veranes and the Campo Valdés Roman Baths. Each of these sites is of great value in itself, but much more can be got from them with the launching of a series of activities summed up in an offering called Archaeological Summer 2016, allowing participants to obtain entertaining, in-depth knowledge of this heritage dating from the city’s most ancestral memory.
[caption id="attachment_1976" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Campo Valdés Romnan Baths"][/caption]
An extensive program of activities has been organized at each of the sites from 17th June to 11th September. Exhibitions, talks and historical re-enactments of ancient times will delight visitors.
What’s more, the DOMVS exhibition is also open in Campa de Torres Archaeology Park until January 2017. The exhibition comprises a Roman house situated in the Chao Samartín hillfort, showing a domus that was built during the first decades of the 1st century AD within the walled enclosure as a residence for a prominent personage forming part of the imperial administration.
Not to mention the experience of getting on the “archaeobus,”a means of transport that allows you to discover Gijón/Xixón’s archaeological remains in a special way. The bus is available to visitors from mid-July. In August, you can discover the links between present-day plants and the past at Herbarium, an activity to be held at the Roman Villa of Veranes.
The list is very long and we have outlined just a part of a fascinating programme of activities brimming with memories and imagination. Why not sign up and make a getaway to Gijón/Xixón to hear the tale its stones have to tell. They are still alive!]]>http://visitgijon.com/2016/08/11/getaways-in-stone/feed/0August is even more Gijón/Xixónhttp://visitgijon.com/2016/07/26/august-is-even-more-gijonxixon/
http://visitgijon.com/2016/07/26/august-is-even-more-gijonxixon/#commentsTue, 26 Jul 2016 09:06:18 +0000SMThttp://visitgijon.com/?p=1965

Gijón/Xixón is even more Gijón/Xixón in August. August is our city’s most festive, sparkling month, with cultural, folk and gastronomic activities occurring almost non-stop from the beginning of the month right through to September. On 2nd and 3rd August, the Gijón/Xixón International Folk Festival offers a panorama of the traditions of a variety of countries from all over the world. It is one of this month’s proposals that draws the most crowds and is complemented by the Tonada Singing Contest that fills the Plaza Mayor (town square) every day.

Boasting over twenty scheduled activities, the Semana Grandeor “Grand Week”, also popularly known as the “Semanona”, constitutes the major offering for residents and visitors alike. The fiestas commences with the proclamation to be delivered on 5th August this year by journalist Lara Álvarez, herself from Gijón, who has already shown that she is “Crazy about Gijón” on more than one occasion. Our peculiar “rocket” announcing the start of festivities will launch a marathon of offerings staged in the city streets. That same day, there will be a bagpipe recital and an open-air dance in the evening with music provided by thePikante Orchestra.

Jovellanos is the protagonist on 6th August, with the traditional tribute and laying of a wreath in the square dedicated to this “illustrious son” of Gijón. The 7th sees the celebration of the Day of Asturias in Gijón/Xixón, a public festivity that also combines a picnic lunch, folklore and music of all kinds… all to be enjoyed with the family (or friends).

The week then continues with one or more concerts each day, worth highlighting among which are performances by Martirio, on the 12th, and Mocedades and Los Panchos, on the 13th. As in previous years, the stages in the Plaza Mayor and at Poniente Beach will be the two focusses of attention for the public attending these summer concerts.

In the second fortnight of August, the different districts and parishes of the borough will keep up the intense and extensive festive programme until the last weekend of the month which sees the holding of the Natural Cider Festival. The festival will include its now traditional attempt to break the world record of people simultaneously pouring cider, cider and apple market, competition for cider pourers, traditional cider tavern songs, free cider tasting, Gold Accolade Award for best cider served at the festival, People’s Choice Award for best cider served at the festival, performances by bagpipe bands and folk groups, the Cider Bus, and recognition of work carried out in defending and promoting cider, rewarded with the Golden Cask Award.

August will end on a high note, constituting a month overflowing with fun where residents and visitors alike can enjoy the vitality of city with the energy and desire to continue partying all summer long.

]]>

Gijón/Xixón is even more Gijón/Xixón in August. August is our city’s most festive, sparkling month, with cultural, folk and gastronomic activities occurring almost non-stop from the beginning of the month right through to September. On 2nd and 3rd August, the Gijón/Xixón International Folk Festival offers a panorama of the traditions of a variety of countries from all over the world. It is one of this month’s proposals that draws the most crowds and is complemented by the Tonada Singing Contest that fills the Plaza Mayor (town square) every day.

Boasting over twenty scheduled activities, the Semana Grandeor “Grand Week”, also popularly known as the “Semanona”, constitutes the major offering for residents and visitors alike. The fiestas commences with the proclamation to be delivered on 5th August this year by journalist Lara Álvarez, herself from Gijón, who has already shown that she is “Crazy about Gijón” on more than one occasion. Our peculiar “rocket” announcing the start of festivities will launch a marathon of offerings staged in the city streets. That same day, there will be a bagpipe recital and an open-air dance in the evening with music provided by thePikante Orchestra.

Jovellanos is the protagonist on 6th August, with the traditional tribute and laying of a wreath in the square dedicated to this “illustrious son” of Gijón. The 7th sees the celebration of the Day of Asturias in Gijón/Xixón, a public festivity that also combines a picnic lunch, folklore and music of all kinds… all to be enjoyed with the family (or friends).

The week then continues with one or more concerts each day, worth highlighting among which are performances by Martirio, on the 12th, and Mocedades and Los Panchos, on the 13th. As in previous years, the stages in the Plaza Mayor and at Poniente Beach will be the two focusses of attention for the public attending these summer concerts.

In the second fortnight of August, the different districts and parishes of the borough will keep up the intense and extensive festive programme until the last weekend of the month which sees the holding of the Natural Cider Festival. The festival will include its now traditional attempt to break the world record of people simultaneously pouring cider, cider and apple market, competition for cider pourers, traditional cider tavern songs, free cider tasting, Gold Accolade Award for best cider served at the festival, People’s Choice Award for best cider served at the festival, performances by bagpipe bands and folk groups, the Cider Bus, and recognition of work carried out in defending and promoting cider, rewarded with the Golden Cask Award.

August will end on a high note, constituting a month overflowing with fun where residents and visitors alike can enjoy the vitality of city with the energy and desire to continue partying all summer long.

For those visitors to Gijón with a more adventurous spirit, the active tourism firm Volar en Asturias offers the possibility of enjoying bird’s eye views of Gijón from a paraglider or hot air balloon. Both provide unforgettable experiences with a range of options depending on who you are intending to take to the air with. What’s more, Asturias’ mild climate and stable atmosphere mean you can fly all year round
Paragliding options include several different flight paths offering stunning views of the city, San Lorenzo Bay and the surrounding countryside. The firm offers tandem flights and beginner training courses, both with a qualified instructor, while experienced paragliders can fly in tandem with their partner or friend.
All flights have a duration of between 15 and 20 minutes, not including transfer times and flight preparation. The possibility also exists of combining paragliding and a trike ride or of heading up to the mountains to soar among Asturias’ world-renowned peaks. Prices range from €34/person when making a group booking (min. 5 people) to €96 for a high mountain flight.
For those who prefer to take to the skies in a hot air balloon, flights are organized in the morning or late afternoon as weather conditions are more stable at these times of day and more suitable for balloon flights. The flight ends with a picnic lunch duly washed down with the quintessential Asturian drink, cider. Passengers also get a diploma accrediting their feat!
The activity lasts around 3 hours, the duration of the flight itself being between 45 to 60 minutes. Each balloon has room for 4 adults and 1 child, with prices ranging between €160 per person and €299 per couple when sharing the basket with others and €560 if you wish to book an exclusive flight, regardless of the number of passengers.
Both activities are equally suitable for enjoying with the family or friends in small groups.
Further information and bookings at: info@volarenasturias.com or (+34) 684 609 518.]]>

For those visitors to Gijón with a more adventurous spirit, the active tourism firm Volar en Asturias offers the possibility of enjoying bird’s eye views of Gijón from a paraglider or hot air balloon. Both provide unforgettable experiences with a range of options depending on who you are intending to take to the air with. What’s more, Asturias’ mild climate and stable atmosphere mean you can fly all year round
Paragliding options include several different flight paths offering stunning views of the city, San Lorenzo Bay and the surrounding countryside. The firm offers tandem flights and beginner training courses, both with a qualified instructor, while experienced paragliders can fly in tandem with their partner or friend.
All flights have a duration of between 15 and 20 minutes, not including transfer times and flight preparation. The possibility also exists of combining paragliding and a trike ride or of heading up to the mountains to soar among Asturias’ world-renowned peaks. Prices range from €34/person when making a group booking (min. 5 people) to €96 for a high mountain flight.
For those who prefer to take to the skies in a hot air balloon, flights are organized in the morning or late afternoon as weather conditions are more stable at these times of day and more suitable for balloon flights. The flight ends with a picnic lunch duly washed down with the quintessential Asturian drink, cider. Passengers also get a diploma accrediting their feat!
The activity lasts around 3 hours, the duration of the flight itself being between 45 to 60 minutes. Each balloon has room for 4 adults and 1 child, with prices ranging between €160 per person and €299 per couple when sharing the basket with others and €560 if you wish to book an exclusive flight, regardless of the number of passengers.
Both activities are equally suitable for enjoying with the family or friends in small groups.
Further information and bookings at: info@volarenasturias.com or (+34) 684 609 518.]]>http://visitgijon.com/2016/07/07/flying-high-in-asturias/feed/0Thirteen years putting down rootshttp://visitgijon.com/2016/06/02/thirteen-years-putting-down-roots/
http://visitgijon.com/2016/06/02/thirteen-years-putting-down-roots/#commentsThu, 02 Jun 2016 09:20:39 +0000SMThttp://visitgijon.com/?p=1949

With a four-leaf clover as its ensign, Gijón's Atlantic Botanic Gardens celebrates its thirteen years of existence. It seems nowadays that the Botanic Gardens have been there forever, although it should be recalled that the initial project was greeted by scepticism in some quarters, as an impossible idea to accomplish. However, it seemed clear that the time would eventually come to provide protection and public use two natural monuments in Gijón/Xixón. On the one hand, the La Isla Garden created from 1870 on by local industrialist Florencio Valdésand linked to a private property which still stands in the grounds of the Botanic Gardens, though it houses outside activities.
[caption id="attachment_1951" align="alignleft" width="242" caption="Florencio Valdés"][/caption]
La Isla itself is a jewel that allows visitors to appreciate the basics of gardening over the last 200 years. Its restoration has been enriched with collections of the most representative groups of ornamental plants. The second masterpiece of nature which in itself justifies the creation of the Botanic Gardens is the Carbayeda del Tragamón or Tragamón Oak Grove, with specimens of more than 400 years old, which has been included within the Atlantic Route.
[caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="La Isla"][/caption]
This itinerary comprises one of the four areas or plant collections into which the Botanical Garden is divided. It offers a tour of the main plant landscapes of the North Atlantic, a recreation of the archetypal vegetation of different biomes of the European zone, namely the boreal and temperate biomes.
The variety, density and quality of the contents of the Botanic Garden is completed with two more collections in which visitors can come into contact with other plant varieties. One is the Cantabrian Environment, a botanical and scenic tour of the native species of this geographical area. The ancestral relationship of human communities with their surrounding plant life is also reflected in this area of the Botanic Garden in the so-called Quintana de Rionda, the recreation of a traditional Asturian farmstead. The farmstead comprises five architectural elements: the house where the family lived; the stable for animals; the cider press for cider making; the mill for grinding grain; and a panera or large raised granary-cum-storehouse in which food was stored and cured. The buildings of the Quintana de Rionda farmstead house permanent exhibits that explain the contents of the Botanic Gardens before the actual visit. They also introduce visitors to the fourth thematic area of ​​the Gardens: the Plant Factory, a title that sums up the purpose of this area very well, namely to explain many aspects of the productive value of plants. These include fruits, vegetables, teas, aromatic and medicinal herbs, fruit trees, cereals and tubers that have changed the lives of humans.
[caption id="attachment_1953" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Children's Wood"][/caption]
The roots that the Botanic Gardens have put down over their thirteen years of existence have extended out to many spheres of society, from the simply curious to researchers and the thousands of students who visit each year to take advantage of their broad-ranging educational programme. The “Children's Wood”, the “Passport to Nature” workshops and the different displays and teaching resources on offer have opened the doors to an exciting world for younger generations that is right there, on their very doorsteps. In addition, the Botanic Gardens boast a high-level research profile that links them to the best botanic gardens in the world through knowledge sharing. The germplasm bank, the herbarium donated by Father Laínz and the care of the botanic collections, both living and dead, are some of the missions of the team of scientists who oversee the daily life of this immense organism.
Yet the Botanic Gardens are much more than this… they are inexhaustible. They host concerts as well as public and private social events, organize courses, workshops, tours and guided visits, in addition to having their own plant shop and book shop. Founded at almost the same time, the Association of Friends of the Botanic Gardens provides substantial backing and collaboration via its contributions and the publicizing of the activities organized by the Gardens.
Thirteen years of putting down roots and harvesting abundant fruit… and hopefully many more still to come!]]>

With a four-leaf clover as its ensign, Gijón's Atlantic Botanic Gardens celebrates its thirteen years of existence. It seems nowadays that the Botanic Gardens have been there forever, although it should be recalled that the initial project was greeted by scepticism in some quarters, as an impossible idea to accomplish. However, it seemed clear that the time would eventually come to provide protection and public use two natural monuments in Gijón/Xixón. On the one hand, the La Isla Garden created from 1870 on by local industrialist Florencio Valdésand linked to a private property which still stands in the grounds of the Botanic Gardens, though it houses outside activities.
[caption id="attachment_1951" align="alignleft" width="242" caption="Florencio Valdés"][/caption]
La Isla itself is a jewel that allows visitors to appreciate the basics of gardening over the last 200 years. Its restoration has been enriched with collections of the most representative groups of ornamental plants. The second masterpiece of nature which in itself justifies the creation of the Botanic Gardens is the Carbayeda del Tragamón or Tragamón Oak Grove, with specimens of more than 400 years old, which has been included within the Atlantic Route.
[caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="La Isla"][/caption]
This itinerary comprises one of the four areas or plant collections into which the Botanical Garden is divided. It offers a tour of the main plant landscapes of the North Atlantic, a recreation of the archetypal vegetation of different biomes of the European zone, namely the boreal and temperate biomes.
The variety, density and quality of the contents of the Botanic Garden is completed with two more collections in which visitors can come into contact with other plant varieties. One is the Cantabrian Environment, a botanical and scenic tour of the native species of this geographical area. The ancestral relationship of human communities with their surrounding plant life is also reflected in this area of the Botanic Garden in the so-called Quintana de Rionda, the recreation of a traditional Asturian farmstead. The farmstead comprises five architectural elements: the house where the family lived; the stable for animals; the cider press for cider making; the mill for grinding grain; and a panera or large raised granary-cum-storehouse in which food was stored and cured. The buildings of the Quintana de Rionda farmstead house permanent exhibits that explain the contents of the Botanic Gardens before the actual visit. They also introduce visitors to the fourth thematic area of ​​the Gardens: the Plant Factory, a title that sums up the purpose of this area very well, namely to explain many aspects of the productive value of plants. These include fruits, vegetables, teas, aromatic and medicinal herbs, fruit trees, cereals and tubers that have changed the lives of humans.
[caption id="attachment_1953" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Children's Wood"][/caption]
The roots that the Botanic Gardens have put down over their thirteen years of existence have extended out to many spheres of society, from the simply curious to researchers and the thousands of students who visit each year to take advantage of their broad-ranging educational programme. The “Children's Wood”, the “Passport to Nature” workshops and the different displays and teaching resources on offer have opened the doors to an exciting world for younger generations that is right there, on their very doorsteps. In addition, the Botanic Gardens boast a high-level research profile that links them to the best botanic gardens in the world through knowledge sharing. The germplasm bank, the herbarium donated by Father Laínz and the care of the botanic collections, both living and dead, are some of the missions of the team of scientists who oversee the daily life of this immense organism.
Yet the Botanic Gardens are much more than this… they are inexhaustible. They host concerts as well as public and private social events, organize courses, workshops, tours and guided visits, in addition to having their own plant shop and book shop. Founded at almost the same time, the Association of Friends of the Botanic Gardens provides substantial backing and collaboration via its contributions and the publicizing of the activities organized by the Gardens.
Thirteen years of putting down roots and harvesting abundant fruit… and hopefully many more still to come!]]>http://visitgijon.com/2016/06/02/thirteen-years-putting-down-roots/feed/0Heart, passion and sporthttp://visitgijon.com/2016/05/27/heart-passion-and-sport/
http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/27/heart-passion-and-sport/#commentsFri, 27 May 2016 10:14:46 +0000SMThttp://visitgijon.com/?p=1942

Diego Pablo Simeone, the famous “Cholo” Simeone, charismatic coach of Atletico de Madrid, once said something that sums up many of the implications of football in society. “Cholo” declared, “Heart evens up the budget.” In other words, a modest second or third tier club, with little money and limited means compensates for its limitations with the passion and support of its supporters. Sporting de Gijón is an example of that powerful bond between football and city, of hearts that compensate for crises and budgets and over above that reveal the sporting spirit of a city which is passionate about sport.
A city in which football is represented by more than a dozen municipal pitches, in addition to others which are either private or belong to the Asturian Football Federation. Currently owned by the city, Mareo Football School has ten football pitches at its facilities and constitutes Sporting’s “alma mater”, where its youth and reserve teams are forged. But it is also the place drempt of by so many children who have enjoyed the successes of “their team” since they were born.
So Sporting is a symbol in itself, a standard for the city, but it is also a springboard encouraging the launching and initiation of an entire city dedicated to sport; not necessarily just football, but many others which nearly always count on widespread participation. These include fun runs in support of different causes, marathons and half-marathons, group activities for cyclists, two municipal golf courses, neighbourhood sports centres, swimming pools and so on.
Passion for football is only the tip of this huge iceberg that is love of sport in Gijón/Xixón. “El Molinón” municipal stadium, where Sporting plays its home games and Spain’s oldest pitch, has also become more than just at football field. It is already part of the city's tourist attractions, constituting a “monument” that can be visited on a tour that allows you to get to know its entrails and the places that have forged many legends in the city’s sporting history.
In short, the “red and white heart” of the people of Gijón is much more than just a figure of speech that is evoked on heroic or sad afternoons of footballing emotions. It is a broader-reaching term that portrays the sporting soul of a city that this year has earned the title of European City of Sport 2016.]]>

Diego Pablo Simeone, the famous “Cholo” Simeone, charismatic coach of Atletico de Madrid, once said something that sums up many of the implications of football in society. “Cholo” declared, “Heart evens up the budget.” In other words, a modest second or third tier club, with little money and limited means compensates for its limitations with the passion and support of its supporters. Sporting de Gijón is an example of that powerful bond between football and city, of hearts that compensate for crises and budgets and over above that reveal the sporting spirit of a city which is passionate about sport.
A city in which football is represented by more than a dozen municipal pitches, in addition to others which are either private or belong to the Asturian Football Federation. Currently owned by the city, Mareo Football School has ten football pitches at its facilities and constitutes Sporting’s “alma mater”, where its youth and reserve teams are forged. But it is also the place drempt of by so many children who have enjoyed the successes of “their team” since they were born.
So Sporting is a symbol in itself, a standard for the city, but it is also a springboard encouraging the launching and initiation of an entire city dedicated to sport; not necessarily just football, but many others which nearly always count on widespread participation. These include fun runs in support of different causes, marathons and half-marathons, group activities for cyclists, two municipal golf courses, neighbourhood sports centres, swimming pools and so on.
Passion for football is only the tip of this huge iceberg that is love of sport in Gijón/Xixón. “El Molinón” municipal stadium, where Sporting plays its home games and Spain’s oldest pitch, has also become more than just at football field. It is already part of the city's tourist attractions, constituting a “monument” that can be visited on a tour that allows you to get to know its entrails and the places that have forged many legends in the city’s sporting history.
In short, the “red and white heart” of the people of Gijón is much more than just a figure of speech that is evoked on heroic or sad afternoons of footballing emotions. It is a broader-reaching term that portrays the sporting soul of a city that this year has earned the title of European City of Sport 2016.]]>http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/27/heart-passion-and-sport/feed/0Five reasons to hate Gijónhttp://visitgijon.com/2016/05/20/five-reasons-to-hate-gijon/
http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/20/five-reasons-to-hate-gijon/#commentsFri, 20 May 2016 09:07:53 +0000SMThttp://visitgijon.com/?p=1933

If you prefer tarmac to greenery in all circumstances and parks, gardens and country paths produce a strange, gut-reaction of rejection in you because you are a militant urbanite and allergic to pollen, then Gijón/Xixón is definitely not your city… do not come here, flee this city!

Not to mention if you are afraid the salt of the Bay of Biscay will push up your blood pressure, if you are too lazy to wipe sand off your feet or if you have sworn never to let the water pass your ankles since you saw “Jaws”. You’ll hate this Gijon full of beaches of all sizes, some of which are located virtually in the very heart of the city. You’ll abhor this maritime Gijón which –how awful!– even has an aquarium, a seawater spa and a marina.

If stones bore you to death and the only history you are interested in is what the newspapers have to say about what happened yesterday, don’t even think of coming to this town with a history that goes back two thousand years, archaeological sites of all types and stones that whisper to you on each step you take. You only have to follow their trail and listen to what they have to tell.

Besides, it would probably be foolish for you to come to Gijón/Xixón if you feel that your legs are extensions that serve only to step on the pedals of the car or you deeply believe that any amount of sporting activity, no matter how little, is very bad for your health. Don’t come to Gijon because it is European City of Sport 2016 #GijónEUsport16 and it is full of bike lanes, footpaths and bicycle paths, swimming pools, sports facilities, public areas to run and municipal golf courses. Not to forget El Molinón, the oldest football pitch in Spain, where Real Sporting de Gijón plays. If sport makes you feel tired by just thinking about it, do not come to Gijón!]]>

If you prefer tarmac to greenery in all circumstances and parks, gardens and country paths produce a strange, gut-reaction of rejection in you because you are a militant urbanite and allergic to pollen, then Gijón/Xixón is definitely not your city… do not come here, flee this city!

Not to mention if you are afraid the salt of the Bay of Biscay will push up your blood pressure, if you are too lazy to wipe sand off your feet or if you have sworn never to let the water pass your ankles since you saw “Jaws”. You’ll hate this Gijon full of beaches of all sizes, some of which are located virtually in the very heart of the city. You’ll abhor this maritime Gijón which –how awful!– even has an aquarium, a seawater spa and a marina.

If stones bore you to death and the only history you are interested in is what the newspapers have to say about what happened yesterday, don’t even think of coming to this town with a history that goes back two thousand years, archaeological sites of all types and stones that whisper to you on each step you take. You only have to follow their trail and listen to what they have to tell.

Besides, it would probably be foolish for you to come to Gijón/Xixón if you feel that your legs are extensions that serve only to step on the pedals of the car or you deeply believe that any amount of sporting activity, no matter how little, is very bad for your health. Don’t come to Gijon because it is European City of Sport 2016 #GijónEUsport16 and it is full of bike lanes, footpaths and bicycle paths, swimming pools, sports facilities, public areas to run and municipal golf courses. Not to forget El Molinón, the oldest football pitch in Spain, where Real Sporting de Gijón plays. If sport makes you feel tired by just thinking about it, do not come to Gijón!]]>http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/20/five-reasons-to-hate-gijon/feed/0Sustainability?http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/12/sustainability/
http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/12/sustainability/#commentsThu, 12 May 2016 10:05:42 +0000SMThttp://visitgijon.com/?p=1927

Sustainability. A veritable buzzword nowadays. Everything is sustainable, or should be. But what is sustainability? What is sustainable? Let’s consult the source. The Spanish Royal Academy defines sustainable as “that which, especially in ecology and economics, can be maintained over a long time without exhausting resources or causing serious damage to the environment”. The concept can be applied to almost everything: sustainable cities, sustainable transport, sustainable agriculture and also sustainable tourism. Gijón/Xixón is a city that is proud of having been awarded the Destination Biosphere certificate, issued by the Responsible Tourism Institute. But what does it mean to say that Gijón/Xixón is a sustainable tourism city? Many things all at once; though, basically, it all consists in providing the necessary means, not wasting resources or energy, respecting what exists, planning at a human scale, enjoying what you have and caring for it. Gijón has a Sustainability Code summarizing all the city’s commitments and those we ask visitors to the city so that they can “help take care of our little zesty paradise”, as stated in one of the points in the code.The Responsible Tourism Charter signed by Gijón City Council in 2012 assumes the importance of tourism as an element of the city’s economic development and the need to take all the necessary measures to protect the resources that make this development possible. Sustainable tourism will always be one of quality, as it will be implemented in a clean, cared-for and respectful setting in which principles are not waived in the name of simple profit.
Gijón/Xixón makes constant efforts to preserve the sustainability of its tourist activities and fulfil its commitments. This effort emanates mainly from municipal government, but would be insufficient if it were not backed by society at large through professional, neighbourhood and cultural organizations, among others. Gijón boasts a list of tourist firms committed to sustainability which have signed the following two documents listing specific actions and commitments: the Responsible Tourist Services Code and the Responsible Events Code. A read of these two statements of principles makes it clear what the common denominators of sustainability are in the tourism industry and the need for to develop coordinated, joint strategies.
Not to forget, of course, the individual responsibility of each and every member of the public in his or her daily activities. Not only businesses and institutions have to take responsibility for their actions: we do, too. How to do so? First, by being aware of the impact our behaviour has on the environment. Measuring our carbon footprint is an innovative system to realize what our responsibilities are. The system has developed a calculator that allows us to make rough estimates of our emissions. There are several websites that enable us to make these measurements and, in the light of the results, start taking corrective measures.
As you can see, sustainability is more than just a word. It is an attitude and a commitment from the present to the future.]]>

Sustainability. A veritable buzzword nowadays. Everything is sustainable, or should be. But what is sustainability? What is sustainable? Let’s consult the source. The Spanish Royal Academy defines sustainable as “that which, especially in ecology and economics, can be maintained over a long time without exhausting resources or causing serious damage to the environment”. The concept can be applied to almost everything: sustainable cities, sustainable transport, sustainable agriculture and also sustainable tourism. Gijón/Xixón is a city that is proud of having been awarded the Destination Biosphere certificate, issued by the Responsible Tourism Institute. But what does it mean to say that Gijón/Xixón is a sustainable tourism city? Many things all at once; though, basically, it all consists in providing the necessary means, not wasting resources or energy, respecting what exists, planning at a human scale, enjoying what you have and caring for it. Gijón has a Sustainability Code summarizing all the city’s commitments and those we ask visitors to the city so that they can “help take care of our little zesty paradise”, as stated in one of the points in the code.The Responsible Tourism Charter signed by Gijón City Council in 2012 assumes the importance of tourism as an element of the city’s economic development and the need to take all the necessary measures to protect the resources that make this development possible. Sustainable tourism will always be one of quality, as it will be implemented in a clean, cared-for and respectful setting in which principles are not waived in the name of simple profit.
Gijón/Xixón makes constant efforts to preserve the sustainability of its tourist activities and fulfil its commitments. This effort emanates mainly from municipal government, but would be insufficient if it were not backed by society at large through professional, neighbourhood and cultural organizations, among others. Gijón boasts a list of tourist firms committed to sustainability which have signed the following two documents listing specific actions and commitments: the Responsible Tourist Services Code and the Responsible Events Code. A read of these two statements of principles makes it clear what the common denominators of sustainability are in the tourism industry and the need for to develop coordinated, joint strategies.
Not to forget, of course, the individual responsibility of each and every member of the public in his or her daily activities. Not only businesses and institutions have to take responsibility for their actions: we do, too. How to do so? First, by being aware of the impact our behaviour has on the environment. Measuring our carbon footprint is an innovative system to realize what our responsibilities are. The system has developed a calculator that allows us to make rough estimates of our emissions. There are several websites that enable us to make these measurements and, in the light of the results, start taking corrective measures.
As you can see, sustainability is more than just a word. It is an attitude and a commitment from the present to the future.]]>http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/12/sustainability/feed/0Penance-free processionshttp://visitgijon.com/2016/05/11/penance-free-processions/
http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/11/penance-free-processions/#commentsWed, 11 May 2016 12:33:55 +0000SMThttp://visitgijon.com/?p=1922

Those of a certain age always called these processions to a local shrine, generally followed by festivities, romerías. Pure and simple. Nowadays they are called “fiestas de prau” (literally, parties in fields). Whatever they are called, the municipal borough of Gijón/Xixón has always been very fond of heading off to oak groves, meadows and outdoor spaces in general to celebrate any event. All to the beat of the drum and the sound of the bagpipe, accompanied by abundant cider and the popular buffet-style feast known as an espicha, well stocked with savoury pies, Spanish omelettes, chorizos cooked in cider and, of course, the mandatory boiled eggs. Food and drink first. Then the dance. They say, and it appears there are documents to support the tale, that in the early 20th century the romería in Granda was so renowned and had so many participants that some families pawned their mattresses so as to have some ready cash to spend during the festivity.
Popular festive culture has saved romerías from disappearing. Nowadays, no neighbourhood association worth its name lacks a festivities committee that spends the year organizing raffles, stands, sweepstakes and other methods to raise sufficient funds to hire the best local orchestra or launch a spectacular fireworks display.
Summer will be with us very soon now and every weekend there will be a romería procession from one parish to another and also to different districts in the town in search of mandatory enjoyment, whether in a field or on the street, as romerías are not just part of our countryside heritage. To give you an idea, more than forty fiestas and romerías are held between 1st May and 4th December! Yes, you heard right… 40! The desire to “party”, called folixa in Asturias, knows no obstacles in winter and in autumn makes the most of chestnuts and freshly pressed apple juice, known as sidra dulce, to celebrate saints’ days.
The truth of the matter is that summer in Gijón/Xixón is very long and full of fiestas. There are those held on the same day every year and those of “general interest”, all organized by city hall. But there are also small celebrations held in the city’s districts and outlying country parishes that mean the festive calendar is both incredibly intensive and nonstop. Almost miraculously, however, people get to the end of summer without serious mishaps, countering the saying that “those who go partying at a romería repent the next day”.]]>

Those of a certain age always called these processions to a local shrine, generally followed by festivities, romerías. Pure and simple. Nowadays they are called “fiestas de prau” (literally, parties in fields). Whatever they are called, the municipal borough of Gijón/Xixón has always been very fond of heading off to oak groves, meadows and outdoor spaces in general to celebrate any event. All to the beat of the drum and the sound of the bagpipe, accompanied by abundant cider and the popular buffet-style feast known as an espicha, well stocked with savoury pies, Spanish omelettes, chorizos cooked in cider and, of course, the mandatory boiled eggs. Food and drink first. Then the dance. They say, and it appears there are documents to support the tale, that in the early 20th century the romería in Granda was so renowned and had so many participants that some families pawned their mattresses so as to have some ready cash to spend during the festivity.
Popular festive culture has saved romerías from disappearing. Nowadays, no neighbourhood association worth its name lacks a festivities committee that spends the year organizing raffles, stands, sweepstakes and other methods to raise sufficient funds to hire the best local orchestra or launch a spectacular fireworks display.
Summer will be with us very soon now and every weekend there will be a romería procession from one parish to another and also to different districts in the town in search of mandatory enjoyment, whether in a field or on the street, as romerías are not just part of our countryside heritage. To give you an idea, more than forty fiestas and romerías are held between 1st May and 4th December! Yes, you heard right… 40! The desire to “party”, called folixa in Asturias, knows no obstacles in winter and in autumn makes the most of chestnuts and freshly pressed apple juice, known as sidra dulce, to celebrate saints’ days.
The truth of the matter is that summer in Gijón/Xixón is very long and full of fiestas. There are those held on the same day every year and those of “general interest”, all organized by city hall. But there are also small celebrations held in the city’s districts and outlying country parishes that mean the festive calendar is both incredibly intensive and nonstop. Almost miraculously, however, people get to the end of summer without serious mishaps, countering the saying that “those who go partying at a romería repent the next day”.]]>http://visitgijon.com/2016/05/11/penance-free-processions/feed/0